Global recession delays restoration of Angkor Wat moat

A huge (and expensive) project to restore the moat surrounding Angkor Wat looks likely to be delayed because of the global financial crises. The US$7.2 million project was to be jointly conducted by Cambodia, Japan, Italy and Germany.

The expensive programme to repair, preserve and protect Angkor Watâ€™s moat has been set back due to the worldwide economic malaise, according to Mao Loa, Apsara Authorityâ€™s director of Department of Monuments Conservation and Preventive Archaeology in the Angkor Complex.

The plan to repair the moat has been in place since 2001, with restoration work to be shared between Cambodia, Japan, Italy and Germany.

But the project stalled because of the global financial crisis.

The length of the moat surrounding Angkor Wat temple is about 6,000 metres. The estimated repair cost of around US$1,200 per metre means the full cost of the project will ultimately be $7.2 million, with much of the work to be done by teams working underwater.